Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1998 12:34:13 -0500 (EST)
From: Partha Banerjee <partha-AT-capital.net> (by way of cyberdiva)
Subject: Does it make you angry? If so, good.


Fascists' rampage in India (this time against women). VHP is Vishwa Hindu
Parishad, the religion front of RSS, the parent organization of BJP, the
party in power in India. Bajrang Dal is VHP's armed youth front.

I only cite excerpts from the article here. For the whole article, see
website of Deccan Herald.
________

Note to Third-World-Women-list friends: Please forward this to SAWNET, etc.

________

DECCAN HERALD

                                                        Friday, November 6,
1998



                       VHP goons go on the rampage

              An exercise in exorcism in tribal area

                               DH News Service
                             AHMEDABAD, Nov 5

Hundreds of branded witches were exorcised in a tribal area of north Gujarat
bordering Rajasthan, during the wee hours of Kartik Purnima on Wednesday
under
the protection of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal.

Several rationalist groups and NGOs, assembled there to stop the evil
practice,
were terrorised by the saffron brigade under the pretext of Christian
baiting in
the presence of the police and other government officials.

The VHP and the Bajrang Dal activists, armed with hockey sticks, lathies and
khanjar swords attacked the 70 activists from different parts of Gujarat
including the tribal areas who had assembled during the past few days for
creating awareness amongst the tribals against baiting women branding
them witches and beating them up.

They terrorised them and insisted that they leave the premises immediately.
They
beat up a photographer and snatched a video cassette from him.

[...]

Women who do not conceive, or had repeated miscarriages were branded
witches and
were exorcised at the Shamlaji fair on the borders of the State, every year.
They are compelled to bathe naked in the Wagdhara kund on the river Meshvo
behind the temple during the Kartik Purnima night. Women who suffer from
mental
disorders are subject to beating by exorcists.



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